Experimental pill could slow memory loss, brain shrinkage New research suggests that some people with Alzheimer’s disease may be infected.
This pill, called ALZ-801 (valiltramiprosate), has been shown to be effective for people with the following symptoms: early alzheimer’s disease And you have two copies of the APOE4 gene, which increases your risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 10 times.
Researchers at Alzeon, a Massachusetts biotechnology company, conducted a phase 3 study of 325 patients with early Alzheimer’s disease, either mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia, all of whom carried the APOE4 gene, according to a press release.
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Participants between the ages of 50 and 80 were randomized to receive either ALZ-801 tablets or a placebo for approximately 18 months.
Across groups, ALZ-801 showed some delay in memory and cognitive decline, but the difference was not statistically significant.
only people with Early stages of Alzheimer’s disease But for people with mild cognitive impairment, taking the pill slowed memory decline by 50% and appeared to halt nearly all daily cognitive decline.
“People diagnosed with MCI experience declines in cognitive abilities such as memory, language, and visual/spatial awareness, but maintain the ability to independently perform most activities of daily living,” Dr. Christopher Webber, senior director of global science initiatives at the Alzheimer’s Association of Chicago, who was not involved in the study, told FOX News Digital.
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People taking twice-daily pills were also slower. brain shrinkage – In particular, the hippocampus, which controls memory and thinking, had about 18% less atrophy than those who took a placebo.
The results were published in the medical journal “Drugs.”
The main side effects reported included nausea, vomiting and appetite suppression, researchers said.
This experimental pill could eventually serve as an at-home alternative to currently approved pills. Alzheimer’s disease treatmentrecanemab or donanemab, both of which require an intravenous infusion.
The current drug is a monoclonal antibody treatment designed to destroy amyloid plaques in the brain, which are also associated with brain swelling and bleeding. ALZ-801, which works by preventing the formation of amyloid plaques in the first place, did not show these side effects.
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“The facts revealed in this trial are: APOE-ε4/ε4 individual “It is encouraging that we did not see an increase in brain bleeding or swelling, suggesting the drug may be relatively safe in populations at high risk for side effects,” Weber said.
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Mark Siegel echoed this benefit.
“This drug can be administered before the plaques are fully formed, so prevention could be the goal,” Siegel, who was also not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “As a result, we don’t see brain swelling, which is a side effect of monoclonal antibodies that dissolve plaques.”
the study The researchers noted some limitations. The main finding is that the strongest results were found only in the early-stage group, but not in all participants.
The study only included APOE4 gene carriers, who account for about 15% of Alzheimer’s patients.
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Also, the study was relatively short and required a longer follow-up study to confirm the results.
Mr. Weber reiterated that the primary and secondary results of the trial were negative.
“That said, follow-up analyzes in certain subgroups were encouraging, including that the treatment significantly slowed the shrinkage of the hippocampus, a part of the brain that plays a critical role in memory,” he told FOX News Digital.
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One encouraging aspect of this is that experimental drugWeber said it could complement other drugs that treat early Alzheimer’s disease.
“This treatment may be used in combination with other treatments.” anti-amyloid treatmentHowever, further evidence is needed to understand how this drug can be used as part of combination therapy, he said.
“Given the relatively small size of this subgroup, it will be important to validate these findings in larger, longer-term clinical trials.”
Siegel agreed that the drug has potential. “This may have future potential as part of a growing body of anti-Alzheimer’s drugs that focus on several different prevention targets, including beta-amyloid, tau plaques and neuroinflammation,” he said.
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This study received funding from Alzheon, Inc., the manufacturer of ALZ-801, and was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging.
